bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Ambrose Li

A Hong Kong art fair designed to attract buyers on a budget has added some city colour to the event in a bid to attract more tourists, and galleries have said they have noticed a jump in the number of younger collectors.
The Affordable Art Fair, a four-day visual feast which opened on Thursday, includes city elements staged in collaboration with the Tourism Board.
These include a traditional barbershop kitted out as a speakeasy and serving cocktails infused with flavours found in traditional cha chaan teng tea houses.
The organisers said they expected about 30,000 visitors to the show over its run.
“The Tourism Board hopes that tourists can have a multisensory experience of Hong Kong’s unique qualities and will explore the community after attending the fair,” a spokesman said.
“The board hopes to include local elements in international art fairs to enrich the experience of visitors.”

The art fair, staged at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai and which will run to Sunday, has recorded a slight increase in the number of galleries taking part, up four on the 93 last year, with visitor numbers about the same.
“We’re on track to get close to 30,000 visitors, which will be on par, if not more, than last year,” Stephanie Kelly, the Asia-Pacific managing director for the fair, said.
She added that Hong Kong’s fast pace, open-mindedness and tax-free policies continued to give the city’s art market an edge over competitors.
Alvin Chiu, the founder and director of art consultancy and gallery A Consulting Limited, has exhibited at the fair for at least five years.
He said it was a good event for exposing art novices to collecting and could help the art market grow.
“I’ve sold a lot of art to first-timers,” Chiu said. “I’ve seen more buyers in their thirties.
“Perhaps they’ve just started a family and need to decorate their new homes.”
Chiu added the perception of original art as unaffordable had changed as prices had become more realistic.
He added increased exposure to the creative world and the relaxed atmosphere of the fair had also helped make art-buying less intimidating.
Choi said artwork that ranged in price from HK$10,000 (US$1,280) to HK$30,000 were the bestsellers from his gallery.
Yann Bombard, the owner of Envie d’Art Gallery, based in France, who has attended the fair in Hong Kong since 2014, said she had also noticed a surge in younger buyers.
“It’s not quite a shift from mature to younger collectors, but an expansion,” he added.
“We still have the ones in their forties and fifties, but there are more of those in their thirties. Collectors have also become more sophisticated.”
Bombard said he could not predict how well his gallery would do this year, but that he would be happy if it was in line with 2023’s performance.
“But if I do better, I will be even more happy,” he added.
Bombard said artworks in the HK$50,000 to HK$60,000 price range were his bestsellers.
The annual fair was first held in Hong Kong in May 2013, when works of art were offered from HK$1,000 up to HK$100,000.
The show follows the Art Basel and Art Central shows, held in March.


Did you know Wallis Simpson stayed at this Hong Kong hotel?

At Hong Kong’s Tam Jai noodle joint, waitresses are the stars

‘Study in Hong Kong’ campaign well-timed but city needs to do more, ranking firm says

Was remaking classic Hong Kong films like Police Story, A Better Tomorrow a good idea?

Hong Kong culture

City colour added to Hong Kong’s Affordable Art Fair in bid to draw in more tourists to annual event

Affordable Art Fair staff arrange works by SHU matsukura as the four-day event opens to the public on Thursday. Photo: Elson Li

A visitor captures some of the work on display at the Affordable Art Fair in Wan Chai on Thursday. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong wants to make a big splash in ‘art tech’. But what is it? From AI to NFTs, broad brush approach may need better framing, experts say

Illustration: Henry Wong 

A Baptist University concert in 2022 featured a live orchestra and an AI choir. Photo: Baptist University

A rehearsal for Baptist University’s 2024 gala concert, which includes an AI interpretation of “Dance of the Yao People”. Photo: Handout

An exhibition used AI to bring to life late critic Nigel Cameron by using a machine to replicate his writing style. Photo: HKADC

The “Gazing at Sanxingdui: new archaeological discoveries in Sichuan” exhibition at the Hong Kong Palace Museum last year included 3D holograms of ancient artefacts. iPhoto: Jonathan Wong

Swiss artist Dan Acher’s outdoor art installation “Borealis” was on view at the West Kowloon Cultural District for three weeks last year. Photo: Dickson Lee

Thomas Campbell agrees that art tech is a way to engage with younger audiences. Photo: Elson Li

Art Basel Hong Kong invites artists with intellectual disabilities for ‘Being and Belonging’ show

(Left to right) Teacher Ko Mei-yee, artist Chou Chiu-ming and his mum Yip Shui-heung attend this year’s Art Basel. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Visitors head to Art Basel at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Chi Association chairman Edward Yau. SCMP: Jonathan Wong

Artist Basa Ria Sirait showcases her work titled My Dream City at the exhibition. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Chan Chau-hung stands beside her ceramic tribute to one of her favourite fruits. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Art Basel Hong Kong: gallerists say more seasoned collectors among visitors to this year’s event

A visitor poses for a photo next to the artwork titled “Mas jumps in his Vortex to DoodleLand” by Mr Doodle. Photo: Eugene Lee

Patrons walk past the “Isolated Island” piece by Yue Minjun as they visit Art Basel. Photo: Eugene Lee

Visitors have described this year’s event as “stunning”. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong’s ‘Art March’: Henderson Land construction site adds splash of colour to Central harbourfront with illustration-covered hoarding

Cathy Lee (right), daughter-in-law of Henderson Land’s founder,  poses with a construction worker at the site. She says the decoration aims to give residents a chance to pause amid their busy lives. Photo: Handout

A pedestrian bridge above the hoarding. The project is funded by developer Henderson Land. Photo: Jelly Tse

Pedestrians walking past part of the hoarding at the construction site. The company acquired the plot for a record HK$50.8 billion in 2021. Photo: Jelly Tse

News

Hong Kong

Hong Kong economy

Affordable Art Fair designed to attract buyers on budget says it has seen increase in number of younger buyers on first day of show
Organisers say they expect about 30,000 people to visit fair, which runs until Sunday


Affordable Art Fair designed to attract buyers on budget says it has seen increase in number of younger buyers on first day of show.


Hong Kong tourism

Art Basel

Tourism

City colour added to Hong Kong’s Affordable Art Fair in bid to draw in more tourists to annual event

Affordable Art Fair designed to attract buyers on budget says it has seen increase in number of younger buyers on first day of show Organisers say they expect about 30,000 people to visit fair, which runs until Sunday

Affordable Art Fair designed to attract buyers on budget says it has seen increase in number of younger buyers on first day of show

Organisers say they expect about 30,000 people to visit fair, which runs until Sunday